COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTIONA blonde based ale. It is a fruit beer with delicious flavor, a great nose, and the perfect poise of pumpkin and spice. This flavorful brew is sure to get you in the fall spirit. 15.8°

Beer Stories
Each of Erie Brewing Company’s finely handcrafted beers have been named for a local person or story associated with the rich history of the city of Erie and “Johnny Rails Pumpkin Ale” was no exception. When bestowing a name upon the new pumpkin brew, many ideas were kicked around. The one that stuck was the nickname of one of our own Erie Brewing staff, “John.” As hardworking as the Railbenders who built our railroad, Johnny Rails, with his blond hair, skinny body, wiry strength, and “BIG” head was the perfect fit. Thus, the beer’s name was born.

The aroma is caramel malt with pumpkin and spices. The appearance is amber with a small head. The taste is like the aroma. The palate is average. Overall just what you would expect from the style, very solid pumpkin ale.

Sample at Kurtkeller 017: Pumpkin-tastic 02 on 10/13/2014. Clear copper-orange color with a medium off-white head that diminishes steadily. Spotty lacing. Aroma of pumpkin spices and toasted malt. Medium-bodied with flavors of biscuit malt, allspice and nutmeg. Slight floral hops in the background. The finish is sweet with a cinnamon aftertaste. Decent overall.

Transfer from BA review on 10-11-13-
Poured from bottle into a pint glass
Appearance – The beer pours a deep orange-amber color with a tiny fizzy white head. The head fades almost instantly, which when gone leaves almost no foam on the top of the brew and almost no lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma has a nice roasted pumpkin smell mixed with lots of cinnamon and nutmeg smells. Along with these aromas there are some light notes of an allspice and ginger spice as well along with lots of brown sugar and caramel sweetness. With these very pumpkin pie smells there is a little bit of a bready aroma as well as some light grainy smells, overall producing a very pleasant rustic pumpkin pie smell.
Taste – The taste begins much drier then I was expecting with a roasted pumpkin and smooth bready taste. Upfront there is a bit of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice present, but these are lighter then expected as well. The spice picks up a little bit more toward the middle and the end with the cinnamon and nutmeg really kicking it up at the culmination of the taste. Along with the increase in the spice, the sweetness also increase as well, with tons of brown sugar and molasses flavors coming to the tongue. In the end, with the sweet and spice flavors combining with the bready and pumpkin, a smooth sweetened pumpkin pie flavor is left to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the slightly thinner side for a brew of 6.5 % abv with a carbonation level that is on the slightly lower side. The lower carbonation is rather fitting for the pumpkin pie like flavors, although a slightly thicker body would have been more appropriate for making a more “chewable” pumpkin pie experience.
Overall – An alright sweeter pumpkin pie brew. The look and feel are a little weak, but the flavors are rather nice for a sweeter pumpkin beer. Not a bad one to try, but not the best out there.

Bottle: &nbsp A muted spiced Pumpkin Ale. &nbsp Some light apple-cinnamon like flavor profile, but its light. &nbsp Moderate body and mouthfeel. &nbsp Light finish, a little stale. &nbsp Not much to say about this other than its a light example, with what seems more like Apple-Cinnamon Oatmeal like flavors, versus an actual Pumpkin Ale.

A gift from a friend. The bottle pours a light amber with a thin foam. Pepper, nutmeg, allspice and some caramel on the nose. Medium body and plentiful carbonation. Pumpkin, malt, and more spice finishes with a slightly smooth character.

Join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community.
Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings.
Click here to create your account... and give your opinion!